I actually quite like this, though I've always been a fan of search based actions. You know, like the Vista/7 search bar in the start button. It's a thousand times faster than trying to click through a bunch of folders/options/whatever.
And yet people still do it. Every time I see someone open All Programs, I die a little more inside.
A first look at Ubuntu Linux's Head-Up Display (Gallery)
by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols | January 26, 2012 5:11am PST | Image 1 of 6
Previous | Next
In Ubuntu Linux's new Head-Up Display (HUD ), menus come second. Instead your primary interface is the search bar. Here, we're looking for a filter inside a graphics program.
Credit: Canonical
Just In
@Aerowind
KDE has had the search on their launcher for quite a while as well. It searches the filenames as well as program names, unlike Windows 7.
KDE has had the search on their launcher for quite a while as well. It searches the filenames as well as program names, unlike Windows 7.
@benched42
What do you mean "unlike Windows 7"?. You can use the search bar for anything on Windows 7 or the internet without even opening your browser if you like. So before you say uncool stuff about anything, be sure of your facts.
What do you mean "unlike Windows 7"?. You can use the search bar for anything on Windows 7 or the internet without even opening your browser if you like. So before you say uncool stuff about anything, be sure of your facts.
@benched42
you are right. KDE has had the search on their launcher for a quite while.
Windows 7 is very recent compared to KDE.
you are right. KDE has had the search on their launcher for a quite while.
Windows 7 is very recent compared to KDE.
And whenever I see an interface making me search for things, I die a little more inside. If an interface fails to make the most basic functionality, like launching a program, easy enough and turns searching for it by typing (I'd use the command line if I wanted that) the superior option, then that interface sucks hard.
Hail Gnome 2 and Cinnamon, where launching apps takes a millisecond *without* pulling out the keyboard and typing.
Hail Gnome 2 and Cinnamon, where launching apps takes a millisecond *without* pulling out the keyboard and typing.
When I say "compose" and it gives me my choices, they I'll consider a new interface.
Of course, that functionality already exists to some degree.
Of course, that functionality already exists to some degree.
This might be nice on those smaller laptops with lousy touch pads. Or it might just be nuts.
Not to burst anyone's bubble, but this sort of functionality has existed via Gnome Do for quite some time.....although this HUD seems more integrated than Gnome Do could be. I'm all for the concept as I LOVE Gnome Do (and it's counterpart Docky).
Cheers
Cheers
I can already do this in Spotlight on the Mac. I just type in my app name, and it opens almost instantly.
@jomali3945 No, you can't. This isn't 'typing in the app name' (you can do that in every modern OS including XP for that matter with Windows Search 4).
This is something different- you type something to do with an action you want to perform, and it appears. So you don't have to go menu-hunting; you just type the command and it works.
Microsoft, instead of pushing for the Ribbon, should have had their UI designers stick with the old system and added this instead (or, gone with the Ribbon and implemented this also, so you don't have to go hunting); though I think that Microsoft's designers are still asleep at the switch and continue to be with Metro.
This is something different- you type something to do with an action you want to perform, and it appears. So you don't have to go menu-hunting; you just type the command and it works.
Microsoft, instead of pushing for the Ribbon, should have had their UI designers stick with the old system and added this instead (or, gone with the Ribbon and implemented this also, so you don't have to go hunting); though I think that Microsoft's designers are still asleep at the switch and continue to be with Metro.
@luckyducky7@...
Um, yes, he can. Spotlight is fully capable of this level of interaction, and, with the addition of a little AppleScript, either downloaded or home grown, MUCH, much more.
More than that, this is essentially just Growl and Quicksilver.
Um, yes, he can. Spotlight is fully capable of this level of interaction, and, with the addition of a little AppleScript, either downloaded or home grown, MUCH, much more.
More than that, this is essentially just Growl and Quicksilver.
@deusexmachina:
No, you are wrong. Quicksilver and Spotlight do not offer this functionality. As a OSX user and someone that knows how to read, this functionality is completely different from either. What you are thinking of is the Dash Bar, which is the same thing as Quicksilver + Spotlight. Which also existed before either if you want to bump heads about it.
This HUD feature is application/context sensitive menu-quick access search via a keyboard instead of having to pole about with a mouse. It is not a replacement or addon to the dashboard search.
And for you other trolls. Apple isn't god. Apple didn't invent spotlight/quicksilver/finder functionality. Neither did MS, neither did Linux O/S's. Drop the ego-ism and fan-boy crap. This is a nice feature. And since I absolutely HATE using my mouse, I am extremely looking forward to this feature.
FYI.. many stand alone apps have had similar functionality for years. But no, OSX and Windows do not offer it.
luckyducky: YES! THe Ribbon is GOD AWFUL. MS needs to take a hint from this style of navigation.
No, you are wrong. Quicksilver and Spotlight do not offer this functionality. As a OSX user and someone that knows how to read, this functionality is completely different from either. What you are thinking of is the Dash Bar, which is the same thing as Quicksilver + Spotlight. Which also existed before either if you want to bump heads about it.
This HUD feature is application/context sensitive menu-quick access search via a keyboard instead of having to pole about with a mouse. It is not a replacement or addon to the dashboard search.
And for you other trolls. Apple isn't god. Apple didn't invent spotlight/quicksilver/finder functionality. Neither did MS, neither did Linux O/S's. Drop the ego-ism and fan-boy crap. This is a nice feature. And since I absolutely HATE using my mouse, I am extremely looking forward to this feature.
FYI.. many stand alone apps have had similar functionality for years. But no, OSX and Windows do not offer it.
luckyducky: YES! THe Ribbon is GOD AWFUL. MS needs to take a hint from this style of navigation.
@jomali3945
Haven't you notice that the HUD is different than app search? I don't know spotlight, but because as you said:"I just type in my app name and it opens..." the HUD was not developed to compete with Ubuntu's own dash bar, the HUD is all about _in_ the apps menu. Consider that Illustration program, if I want to delete an object, I just type the word "d" and you have many menu choices from "delete" to anything else that has the word "d". Again, the HUD is not to search for an application to launch, but to search for a "FUNCTION" or "command" that is present inside an app. Big difference.
Haven't you notice that the HUD is different than app search? I don't know spotlight, but because as you said:"I just type in my app name and it opens..." the HUD was not developed to compete with Ubuntu's own dash bar, the HUD is all about _in_ the apps menu. Consider that Illustration program, if I want to delete an object, I just type the word "d" and you have many menu choices from "delete" to anything else that has the word "d". Again, the HUD is not to search for an application to launch, but to search for a "FUNCTION" or "command" that is present inside an app. Big difference.
@jomali3945, I do the same on my mac with an SSD drive and it is instant. Macs rock.
A UI so bad and feature-bloated that you are encouraged to primarily 'search' for every function you want to perform? And this is touted as an enhancement? Sounds more like an excuse for lazy UI development.
Have you ever tried to search and did not know the exact keyword that was needed? Not particularly awesome...
Have you ever tried to search and did not know the exact keyword that was needed? Not particularly awesome...
@SbySW
What modern OS doesn't offer this type of functionality?
What modern OS doesn't offer this type of functionality?
Looks good. It is quite like Spotlight, or Quicksilver on the Mac platforms. A useful improvement.
The purpose of menus is not only to provide access to most commonly functions, but also to provide a list of what functions EXIST for use. This method of UI interaction is fundamentally flawed because you are making an unwarranted assumption: that the user knows what functions to ask for by name when doing a search for them.
This is a foolish tack to take and by hoisting it on Ubuntu users as the only Canconical "officially" supported UI, Ubuntu will only see its supporters desert even faster.
This is a foolish tack to take and by hoisting it on Ubuntu users as the only Canconical "officially" supported UI, Ubuntu will only see its supporters desert even faster.
@TJD23 I'm one of those who abandoned Ubuntu after being a longtime fan. I don't like the Fisher-Price direction they are headed in.
@TJD23 - You're absolutely correct that the OTHER aspect of menus is to enable discoverability of what is possible, but you should read the actual proposal. Discoverability is identified, but the proposal is not to REPLACE menus with HUD, but supplant one specific aspect of menu use (act of hunting through menu options to find what you want).
Canonical have flagged that they're like to look at the function that menus play in mapping available functionality into a discoverable hierachy as well - but later.
Pity most articles on the topic state that its a menu replacement, when this is not what Canonical are intending - read MS's proposal.
Canonical have flagged that they're like to look at the function that menus play in mapping available functionality into a discoverable hierachy as well - but later.
Pity most articles on the topic state that its a menu replacement, when this is not what Canonical are intending - read MS's proposal.
This is lame. The point of an OS is to minimize the work you have to do. Now we have to type out what we want? What next...we have to type in a line of code?
Search is central to GNOME 3. Applications, windows, documents and even settings can all be quickly and easily searched for from one place. Accessing GNOME 3???s search is as simple as pressing the windows key and starting to type. This is a great feature for people who like things to happen fast.??Type??sy??and system settings icon appears.??Type ch or g and Google Chrome icon appears. Type wr and LibreWriter icon appears. Type sp or ca and LibreCalc(Spreadsheet) icon appears. Type add or remove to add/remove software. ??Type ph or sh and Shotwell (photos) icon appears. ??Type fi and file manger icon appear. Type te and terminal icon appears. Use up and down arrow keys along with enter key to select icon that appears.
An "access function via search" feature is fine for the rarely used functions... assuming you manage to *guess* the right keyword or search term. However, if you're actually trying to be productive using applications which are familiar, it makes a lot more sense to rely on muscle memory, coupled with something like Radial Menus to make use of that muscle memory.
We humans adapt. We learn patterns, abstract them, and then repeat them later at a more or less subconscious level, leaving our conscious minds to do the creative work. When my hands execute a particular sequence of motions, I don't have to consciously direct every movement, which results in greater productivity and efficiency.
Having to actually *search* for the functions I need represents a step *backward* in productivity if the functions are ones I can learn via muscle memory instead.
We humans adapt. We learn patterns, abstract them, and then repeat them later at a more or less subconscious level, leaving our conscious minds to do the creative work. When my hands execute a particular sequence of motions, I don't have to consciously direct every movement, which results in greater productivity and efficiency.
Having to actually *search* for the functions I need represents a step *backward* in productivity if the functions are ones I can learn via muscle memory instead.
Ah yes, GUIs have now gotten so complex that it is necessary to have a search function to find infinitely nested sub-sub-sub menu items just so we can click on a command to perform some function. What comes next after that will be touted as a "breakthrough": a box where you can type in a command directly and it will perform its function. It will be called the "command line" and will revolutionise computing. 
I personally feel that those of us that do not "touch-type" and have to hunt and peck while looking at the keys will still prefer a good old-fashioned mouse and menu system to ANY OS' search style system. I am not a computer newbie; I just never learned to type! In fact my hobby is to procure older hardware and give it an update and a new lease on life with an appreciative new owner, and Lubuntu, Xubuntu, and WattOS (a Ubuntu derivitive) are perfect operating systems for these "out-dated & obsolete" machines.
Welcome to the new King's Quest. Can you guess the right word(s) to search for to use your app?
UI designers still need to organize features into menus, provide descriptions, and assign keyboard shortcuts. This is the source that HUD reads when doing a search. HUD is just another way to navigation the structure without tree widgets.
Shortcuts are still very valuable, because you want power users to not have to exercise menus or HUD if they don't need to.
It's not too far a stretch to imagine a Siri-like search engine supplanting HUD. As we mutter under our breath, "now, where the heck is that shadow thingy?", the search agent pops up some suggestions.
Shortcuts are still very valuable, because you want power users to not have to exercise menus or HUD if they don't need to.
It's not too far a stretch to imagine a Siri-like search engine supplanting HUD. As we mutter under our breath, "now, where the heck is that shadow thingy?", the search agent pops up some suggestions.
At first glance it is tempting to see this as an implemetation of the functionality we currently enjoy through synapse or GnomeDo - (or that mac users enjoy through quicksilver and spotlight) but the difference is in what you search for - 'compose email' rather than 'thunderbird' for example - presumably this means that I don't have to think about what software to install - 'record lp' for instance should go away and install audacity from the repositories... i.e focus on what you want to achieve not on the tool.
I absolutely loathe Unity, but HUD actually looks like it might be useful. Most of the people dissing it or comparing it to other things either didn't read the article, or didn't understand it, so let me spell it out a little more plainly:
It's not an app launcher, and it doesn't replace app menus. Read that sentence again. Done? Good. Now let's move on to the next tricky concept: It is an optional addition to app menus. (If you're confused as to what an app menu is--and some people here seem to be--it's all those words that are usually in some kind of bar toward the top of the application window, and all those other words that pop up when you click them. Go ahead and try it. When you click those words, it makes your program do things.)
Now take special note of the two other tricky words that are obviously unfamiliar to several people here: "Optional" means you don't have to use it if you don't want to, and "additional" means you have both HUD and the regular menus. Read this paragraph a couple more times and take notes so you'll remember what those words mean the next time you see them.
Now for an example: Say you're running GIMP and want to do a gaussian blur--it's okay if you don't know that that is--If you don't know what the word "optional" means, I don't expect you to understand that a gaussian blur is. It's enough that you know that GIMP is a computer program, and one of the things it does is called a gaussian blur. Now, that little app menu thing we were talking about earlier? (Re-read that paragraph if you don't remember what an app menu is.) You can use the app menu to go to Filters/blur/gaussian blur, like most people do now, OR just type in the first few letters of it to make GIMP do a gaussian blur. You can do it one way right now, then thirty seconds later do it the other way. You get to pick each time which way you want to do it.
Is that simple enough? Everybody got it? Good. I hope I've helped to enlarge your vocabulary by explaining all those hard words so many people had trouble understaning. You're welcome.
Now get off my lawn.
It's not an app launcher, and it doesn't replace app menus. Read that sentence again. Done? Good. Now let's move on to the next tricky concept: It is an optional addition to app menus. (If you're confused as to what an app menu is--and some people here seem to be--it's all those words that are usually in some kind of bar toward the top of the application window, and all those other words that pop up when you click them. Go ahead and try it. When you click those words, it makes your program do things.)
Now take special note of the two other tricky words that are obviously unfamiliar to several people here: "Optional" means you don't have to use it if you don't want to, and "additional" means you have both HUD and the regular menus. Read this paragraph a couple more times and take notes so you'll remember what those words mean the next time you see them.
Now for an example: Say you're running GIMP and want to do a gaussian blur--it's okay if you don't know that that is--If you don't know what the word "optional" means, I don't expect you to understand that a gaussian blur is. It's enough that you know that GIMP is a computer program, and one of the things it does is called a gaussian blur. Now, that little app menu thing we were talking about earlier? (Re-read that paragraph if you don't remember what an app menu is.) You can use the app menu to go to Filters/blur/gaussian blur, like most people do now, OR just type in the first few letters of it to make GIMP do a gaussian blur. You can do it one way right now, then thirty seconds later do it the other way. You get to pick each time which way you want to do it.
Is that simple enough? Everybody got it? Good. I hope I've helped to enlarge your vocabulary by explaining all those hard words so many people had trouble understaning. You're welcome.
Now get off my lawn.
I love Ubuntu and have been using it since 7.10. At first I did not like Unity but after using it for a few weeks I have gotten over my initial negative reaction. I had been using ciaro dock for launching apps but have gotten used to the dash and find it superior in some ways (folded colapsed icons). I thank you for this artical explaining away my concerns for the new interface HUD being an adition not a replacement of menues.
Lotus Development Corp, of Lotus 1-2-3 fame of yesteryear, had a similar product named Hal (after the computer in 2001). It was a huge flop. Maybe on much faster systems with much more storage the fuzzy search concept may work better. But maybe not.
Definitely not a UI to draw new users to Linux, but maybe that's the intent.
Definitely not a UI to draw new users to Linux, but maybe that's the intent.
It's sad that most of the whiners here don't have an ideal what is going on. We are not talking about people giving their informed opinions about something. We are talking about the slackers who have not studied or learned the interface. Oh! they want their Windows 98 back. lol. Most are just too lazy to learn anything new. You people need to stop complaining and start learning a little. Anybody who said that they can't find anything easily in Unity probably had a hard time turning on their computer. Let's see what should I do? Click through 3 or more menus or click twice, (it's faster to type in two letters), to launch my application? Am I being a hard-ass? Yes. Am I making fun of some people? Yes, but it's because some here are just ridiculous. Stop acting like somebody owes you something.
Join the conversation!
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
Facebook Activity
